Runner bean

Phaseolus coccineus

Climbing bean with bright red (or white) flowers and long flat pods. A British staple of cottage and allotment gardens.

Hardiness ratings

Runner bean hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 3–11 −40 °C to 10 °C Zones where it can be grown as an annual — not a frost-tolerance rating
RHS hardiness rating H7 down to −20 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 3–9 −34 °C and warmer Zones where it can be grown as an annual — not a frost-tolerance rating
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 1–7 −15 °C and warmer Zones where it can be grown as an annual — not a frost-tolerance rating

As a tender annual, Runner bean doesn't overwinter — the zone range shows where the growing season supports it. See the RHS rating for its actual cold tolerance.

Growing notes

  • Perennial roots in zones 9+ — survive mild winters and resprout in spring
  • Excellent bee forage — flowers loved by bumblebees in particular

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Runner bean against your zones

Reference

Runner bean on Wikipedia